Depth bomb



Dec. 30, 1924- 1,521,091

F. L. 'GUILLEMET DEPTH BOMB Filed July 1a, 1918 2 sheetssheet 1 y Dec.-30, 1924. f,

` Y F. L. GU|LLEMET DEPTH Bor'a Filed July 1B, 191e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lumemei Patented Een, 3Q, i324.

FRANCOIS LEONIDS GUILLEMET,

F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DEETH BOMB.

Application led July 18,

To @ZZ @from t may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANQoIs LnoNinAs GIHLLEMET, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sa Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ot California, have invented a new and uset'ul improvement in Depth Bombs, of which the following is a specification.

'l` his invention relates to depth bombs, and more particularly to a marine projectile which is normally ineffective, being rendered eti'ective in sinking beneath the surface of the water by suitable liring or exploding means controlled by hydrostatic pressure.

More specitically, the invention comprehends the provision of an explosive projectile which is adaptec to be discharged in any suitable manner, such as from a suitable gun barrel, tube, or manually, depending upon the size and type ot the projectile; which will not esplode upon impact against an ect; which is particularly designed t'or use in the destruction ot torpedoes, submarines and analogous water craft, being adapted to esplode when it reaches a predetermined depth beneath the surface of the water; and one which is ineffective, until the hydrostatic pressure against the tiring mechanism reaches a predetermined degree regardless ot distance travelled by the Abomb or the lapse oi' time employed in its trajectory.

Yurther object or" the invention is to provide means for regulating the hydrostat which controls the tiring ot the projectile, so that this hydrostat may be set to discharge the projectile at various depths.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hydrostatically operated tiring mechanism, which comprises a member adapted to be acted upon by hydrostatic pressure when the projectile with which the hydrostat vis connected sinks, which member is normally retained against movement by the hydrostatic pressure by suitable springs or analogous retarding means, the retarding action of which is overcome when thehydrostatic pressure reaches or exceeds a substantially predetermined degree, permitting` the operation of the tiring mechanism ot the projectile.

More specilically, the invention comprehends the provision of hydrostatically controlled ipiring mechanism as specified, which includes a rotary sparker, normally restrain- 1918. Serial NO. 245,589.

ed from rotary movement, and which is released, tor rotary movement, to create a spark, to ignite the explosive of the projectile upon the disengagement of its restraining pin therefrom, by operation of companion parts ot the hydrostatically controlled tiring mechanism under hydrostatic pressure.

IOther objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyin v drawings, forming a part of this specication, and in which drawings:

Figure l is a plan view et a hydrostatically controlled firing mechanism used in the improved projectile.

igure 2 is a section through the hydrostatically controlled tiring mechanism taken on the line et Q-Q oi' Figure l.

Figure 3 is top plan of a projectile constructed in accordance with this invention having the improved hydrostatically controlled tirinomechanism carried thereby.

Figure di is a cross section taken on the line st-et of Figure 3 illustrating a section through a modified form ot the hydrostatically controlled firing mechanism.

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5 5 ot Figure Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through a modified term ot the hydrostatically controlled tiring mechanism.

Figure 7 is a plan view ot' a modified iorm of the hydrostatically controlled firing mechanism having a part of the casing thereot' removed.

Figure S is a vertical longitudinal section through the hydrostaticaliy controlled tiring mechanism illustrated in Figure 7 and taken Y line S 8 ot Figure 7.

Figure i) is a longitudinal section through a further moditied form of the hydrostatically controlled firing mechanism.

Figure lO is a side elevation ot a modilied form or the projectile., and

Figure ll is a fragmentary section through the projectile illustrated in Figure 3, showing a protector tor the hydrostatically controlled tiring mechanism to prevent premature explosion of the projectile when discharging it from a cannon or analogous projector.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like and corresponding parts throughout the several views and referring particularly to Figures l, and 2 ot the drawings, the casing er shell ot the projectile is provided with threaded opening extending therethrough into which a plug 16 is threaded. rEhe plug 16 is provided with an axial threaded opening, and with an annular shoulder l?, e2;- tending thereinto intermediate the ends ot the plug. fr diaphragm 18 is positioned within the plug 16 and is Yforced against the outer surface of the annular shoulder l?, by a plug i9 which is threaded into the threaded portion ot the arial bore of the plug i6. li so desired7 a suitable gasket 2O may he placed between the plug 1S and the diaphragm 18 which can he constructed oi any desired material. rlhe plug 19 is provided with diametrically opposed recesses 2.., adapted to receive a key, to facilitate the screwing et this plug into the threaded bore oi' the plug 167 and it is provided with an annular rib 22 extending into the bore 23 thereoi intermediate its ends7 against the inner surface or which shoulder or rib, a disc 2ahears. T he disc 2e engages the outer Jrace ot the diaphragm 18, while similar disc 2li engages the inner tace ot the diaphragm. rthe disc Qa is threaded upon the end ot a stern which extends axially througi the plug 16, and through the housing 26 which is attached to the plug 1G in any suitable mannen as indicated 97. This housing` 26 is adapted to contain a highly explosive or volatile gas, liquid or analogo-us substance, which is ignited hy means of the ignit-ing mechanism which will he hereinafter more tully described, upon the inward movement of the diaphragm i3. T he diaphragm 1S nmniiall.;y held against inward movement hy a spiral which coiled about the stem and which has one end engaging against the disc 29 'formed upon the stein 25, while its other end engages against a plug 30, which is threadahly carried by the spring housing 31 so as tov permit the tensioning of the spring` 2S to regulate the resisting power of the diaphragm 18 and consequently to regulate the depth at which the tiring mechanism will he regulated under hydrostatic pressure against the diaphragm 18. The tiring mechanism comprises ratchet SZ which is rotatablymounted upon the stein and has a depending sleeve 35E tcamed thereon. The lower end ot this sleeve a disc which is mounted about the stem 25 and upon the upper sur- Yface ci the annular shoulder 17. A coil spring o5 has one end connected to the sleeve 3? and its opposite end is connected to tue plug 1G as shown at 3C, so that the uncoiling or unwindine; action or: the spring will rotate the sleeve and conse-quenthY rotate the ratchet 32, rllhe peripheral teeth upon the ratchet 32 are preferably relatively line. and a flint or analogous sparking substance held against the periphery of the ratchet 32, hy a suitable carrier 37, which is mounted upon the bowed portion 38 et a spring 39 which is substantially tisnaped in side elevation as illustrated in Figure 2 oi the drawings and the normal tendency oit which is to hold the carrier 3'? and the sparking substance carried thereby in engagement with the periphery ot' the ratchet 32. The ratchet 32 is held against rotary movement and consequently the spring 35 is held coiled or tensioned, by a pin i0j which is carried by the disc 29 and engages in a suitable opening in the ratchet 32.

ln operation, when the projectile7 which carries the improved hydrostat, sinks, the press re oif the water against the diaphragm 153 will tend to l'orce this diaphragm inward lj.: Hoivel'erj the diaphragm will he held against inward movement7 by the spring Qt, until the hydrostatic pressure or the pressure or the water against the diaphragm is great enough to overcome the action of the spring 28, at which time the torce of the water will force the diaphragm 18 and consequently the disc 25e and Q51. carried there hy inwardly, moving the stein 25 therewith. This inward movement ot Jthe stem 25 will more the pin i110 out of its seat or the opening inv the ratchet 32, releasing this ratchet :tor eration, and immediately upon the disengagement ot the pin et() with the ratchet 32 the spring 35 will he released` and the un ceiling thereoii will rotate the ratcliet 35, moving .its roughened periphery over the i'iint or analogous sparking substance carried h v the carrier 3T creating aI number ot sparks which will ignite the highly intlanunahle or explosive material within the housing 26 to explode the same and consequently explode the depth. homh or projectile.

Figures 2l and 1J.- oi the drawings illusa 'torni of projectile which is adapted to he projected Vfrom a cannon, tube or analogous projector. and this projectile 5f) is pointed at hoth ends, to prevent the Creating of a vacuum hehind the projectile during its travel. and it will he noted that 'he forward end of the projectile is ot smaller diameterthan the rear portion. thereof, an annular shoulder being prorided about the project-ile intermediate its This construction will prevent thev hating oi.l the projectile, causingI it to and downwardly through water. The non-ricochet vteature is produced because of the uovcl design oit the projectile. in that the annular shoulder 51 is broA vided suhstantially at the center ot the projectile, so that the weight of the projectile on opposite sides thereof is substantially equal. yWhen the projectile is fired7 the annular shoulder coming into contact with the water will act as a ulcrum, so to speak, tilting the projectile so that it will take a downward dip at its forward end, and pass into the water. l/Vhen the projectile is tired at a high velocity and a low trajectory, the rear enlarged portion of the projectile engages the surface of the water at about the same time as the front pointed end strikes the water. This violent plowing of the enlarged part of the projectile through the water, at the under side thereof, not only prevents the projectile from lifting its nose above the water level, but also tends to make the nose swerve downwardly, causing the projectile to sink abruptly.

The projectile 50 is provided with a threaded opening 52 therein, and an annular inwardly extending iange 53 surrounds a portion of this opening. The threaded opening 52 receives therein the main body 54, of the hydrostatically controlled tiring mechanism 55, for connecting the hydrostat to the projectile. The body 54 is provided with an axial recess extending thereinto from its outer surface and terminating in an. annular shoulder 56, against which the circumferential edge of the diaphragm 57 is forced by the plug 58, which is threaded into the recess formed in the body 54 of the hydrostat. T his diaphragm 57 has a stem 59 extending` therethrough upon which stein, discs 60 and 61 are mounted one upon cach side of the diaphragm. The stem 59 has a disc 62 mounted thereon, against which a spiral spring 63 presses, for urging the stem and consequently the diaphragm 57 outwardly to prevent inward movement of the diaphragm under hydrostatic pressure less than the pressure exerted by the spring 63. This spring 63 is housed by a substantially truste-conical extension 64, formed upon a shell 65, which is connected to the body 54 in any suitable manner. A second disc 66 is mounted upon the stem 59 and engages the inner end of the body 54. A coil spring 67 is coiled about the stem between the discs 62 and 66, having one end connected to the stem, while the other end is coiled about a pin 68, which is carried by the body 54. A match 69 is attached to the spring 67 by any suitable type of attaching means 70. A disc 71 of highly errplosive material is placed within the shell 65, beingl securely attached to the under surface of the tiat portion oli' the shell and strip of any suitable type of abrasive 72 such as sand paper is attached to the inner surface oi the shell 65 directly below the disc 7l. ln operation, when the pressure of the water against the diaphragm 57 overcomes the tension of the spring 63, the diaphragm will be forced inwardly and upon moving inwardly will carry the pin 59 therewith, moving the curved end opt the spring 67 ott the pin 68, and releasing this end of' the spring which will permit the spring to uncoil and in the uncoiling action of the spring the match 69 will be rubbed against the abrasive 72, igniting the match which will in turn ignite the explosive material 7i. rlhis material exploding will burst the shell 65, which relatively thin, and explode the projectile 50.

A spider 7 3 is placed in the outer end of the body 54 to protect the diaphragm 57.

ln Figure ll ot the drawings, a protector or protecting disc 75, is placed over the spider 73 to prevent the premature exploding of the projectile by the operation of the hydrostatically-controlled iiring mechanism 55, under the pressure ot the exploding charge in the projector A, and this disc is preferably constructed ot spring metal, having its forward portion bent upwardly as clearly shown in Figure il, and having a spring tongue 76 carried therebyT which engages the bore of the projector ii and maintains the disc 75 in place. However, as soon as the projectile 50 leaves the projector A the pressure against the spring protecting disc 75 through the medium of the tongue 76 will be released and the outwardly bent forward portion thereof will spring beyond the periphery ot' the projectile forming a pocket, as indicated at 77 for receiving air and also forming an abutment for the air which will cause the spring disc 76 to be forced out of its seat, in the projectile 50, and leave the hydrostatically-controlled firing mechanism free to be operated by hydrostatic pressure. lt' it is so desired, the projectile 50 may be provided with a way, as shown at 78 to guide air beneath the upstanding or outwardly bent portion of the spring disc 75, and into the pocket 77.

Figure 6 of the drawing illustrates a modified form of the hydrostatically-controlled tiring mechanism, which includes a plug 80, adapted to be threaded into a` casing of a projectile into which is threaded a cylindrical body 81, carrying a percussion cap 82 at its inner end. A hammer or piston 83 is mounted within the cylinder 8l and has a striking point 84 carried thereby, which is adapted to engage the percussion cap 82 to explode the same for exploding a projectile with which this form ot the hydrostat is employed. The piston 83 has a head 85 carried thereby which may be a bolt, nut or analogous structure to which a spring is connected. rlhe spring 86 is connected in any suitable manner to the body plug 80. lfVhen the hydrostatic pressure against the piston 83 becomes great enough to break the spring 86 the piston will be released from restraint of its inward movement, by the breaking of the spring, and

' plodiug tlieiszuiie.

7 end ot' the drawings lincludes the me n Vstricted outlet iori said bore Theiiiodilied form' iliusoruted iii body' plug. Qif'provided with 'suitable recesses 91 to vtaciurateits Breeding into u projeitile sheli. r pistou 9i issdzibl mounted wir vsi ielbore'iri tbY und :i packingable iiizit-eriizii ehu ier eoiii form has onev end' coiuiected'o t`ie'y 90, 'and its ei'd' v95 f ti reed mv :resting upon the meer eiidei; :the

lThe piston 91 is provided with rc 'p'orioii 96',et:a;'poiiit "Whereythe eiidk 95 of the spring rests; i carp 9?, is suppergedupoi :985 formed upon, trie body 9d, ctiy riried et Heath y the corner or :ingle if@ 1 f turning ci" the vend io 'the spring ,and

ywhich isattached tov the rbor y 7 Nu powdertrein100 vleeds -i percussion lcup @Trout through tlre'fshell 10h' hold the piston against inward iiioveineii under hydrostatic pressure. iewever 'ci hydrostatic pressure will gradially force the piston 91 inwardly forcing the spring 94% inwardly avid tensioning the ie, until the end 95 of the spring is gradually forced outwardly or rides over the inclined fece of the cut out portion 9G, at which time the spring Will be released iroiii engagement with the piston owing to the cut-oui; portion 96T. and it will fly outu into its normal position causing the angled portion 99 there of, to strike the percussion cap 97, arid eX- plode the saine, the explosion ofi' Whifh will be treiisiriitted to the explosive in the projectile through the powder t1 100.

The further modied illustrated in Figure 9 comprises e cylindrical bidi," plug 120, which has a thr aided portion 121 for threadable engagement with a, shell or the ,center thereoi eoirtroiled ifiii'iu terry' one ci" the; i Y

ydepth iii rirev Waiter presser v 'eguiuetgaat' 1 e handle iirdricz 2 e' n, t prism@ zr subsite iitullir which has :i

:ujf f iirechu mecha iii coirtroiled firing sci-ibefuy ierl cout el, A D

pioding oi the erebly f such y,size :that it kmuy be irifiiiuafll llern or projected ywhen in f use. i f f Chfiiiges iii details may be iliade rvinout deparrziiig from the spirit of this iiiveiition,Y

but;

claim:

l. A hydrostatically-controlled firing mechanism for hiring depth bombs when the same ree ch u p edeteii'iiiiiied depth comprising a diuphregiii, ai stein connected to said diaphragm, zi sparking rachet rotem?W mounted upon mid seiii, a spurl-:ing i is@ ber9 spring meu s Jieldiibly zjuziiit said sparking member iii peiiplii-irzil engagement with sri-.iu sp ietchett meen-si for rotating said het, c i

stein, sei 1d rati prevent 'Jiri zi to be uioxied out rit Wi 1t het upon iii- Aexil; f' to permit ririodiied y fyrliiidricel; mricfiily-coii 17, redetermiired f f v f er when the hydrostatic,

i estat ,ML beceiies i f overcome ythe resisting i lrostziticelly-coritrclled fir 'lilyr exceeding, slot v f Y i2? sind 12,512

, rrThis type ci? projectile hais, f viormcd 'there-:ur and vis prei?-y i ne waneer v said stem, a pin upon said disc l1 tically-controlled tiring mechn Aism r r exploding depth bombs a pr pressure comprising a pl connected to said d pl g ratchet rotatably mounted upon f's stem, a sparking members spring means yieldably maintaining said spar-ltr rabe-r in peripheral engagement with said sparking ratchet, means -lor rotating said spannng ratchet7 disc carried by said stem7 a pin upon said disc and engaging said ratchet to prevent rotati` n thereoi"a said )in adapted to be moved out ot engagement with the ratchet upon inward movement or the diaphragm to permit rotation of the sparking ratchet, spring means Wound spirally about said stem and normally preventing inward movement ot said diaphraUm7 and means tor tensioning said spring.

Ll. A hydrostatically-controlled tiring mechanism 'for exploding depth bombs at a predetermined pressure comprising a diaphragm, stein carried by said diaphragm, coil sning, means engaging said coil spring to prevent uncoiling action thereof? said spring adapted to release upon inward movement of the diaphragm and stem from engagement With the means normally restraining uncoiling action of the spring, and a sparker actuated by said spring and adapted to explode the depth bomb charge.

The combination with a marine projectile conilnising a body having a soclret therein and agrooie communicating With the socket extending trom the 'forward end of thel projectile, a hydrostatically-controlled firing mechanism for exploding the projectile `when the same reaches a predetermined depth comprising a body detachably fitted in the socket having means sensitive to fluid pressure,1 and a guard 'for said hydrostatically-controlled tiring mechanism fitted Within the socket and normally covering said -ie-ans; and a resilient tongue formed on the guard and disposed in line with said groote, said tongue forming means for holding the guard in position in relation to the hydrostatically-controlled firing mechanism -when the projectile is in the barrel of a gun and for forming air resisting means when the projectile is in flight so that the guard Will be lifted during flight oit of the projectile.

6. A firing mechanism Jfor projectiles comprising a supporting` plug, a pressure operrated diaphragm mechanism including adjustable means normally resisting pressure upon the diaphragm to a predetermined degree, and sparking means including an abrasive member, normally inoperative spring means for rotating said abrasive member adapted to be released by movement of said diaphragm mechanism upon operation of the latter at predetermined pressure, and a pyrophoric material yieldably held in engagement with said abrasive member' and adapted to produce sparks upon movement of the latter thereover.

7. i marine depth bomb having an annular shoulder provided thereon rearwardly or its nose in non-projecting relation forwardly of the bomb and in such relation to the ballistic characteristics of the bomb that When striking a Water surface the shoulder will engage the water to deflect the bomb into the Water and prevent ricochet thereof.

F. LEONIDAS GUILLEMET.

lVitnesses Rose A. GnLLnMn'r, VIRGINIA FLORENCE GUILLEMET. 

